Reversible transformation between cubane and stairstep Cu4I4 clusters using heat or solvent vapor.

The controlled self-assembly of CuI and an asymmetric ligand with mixed N/S donors, 2-(tert-butylthio)-N-(pyridin-3-yl)acetamide (L), afforded three Cu(I) coordination polymers (CPs), [Cu4I4L2(MeCN)2]n (1), [Cu4I4L2]n (2), and {[Cu4I4L2]⋅MeOH}n (3). X-ray analyses showed that CPs 1-3 are supramolecular isomers with 1, 2, and 3D structures, respectively. CP 1 adopts a stairstep Cu4I4 cluster, whereas CPs 2 and 3 are composed of cubane-like Cu4I4 clusters. Crystal-to-crystal transformations of 1 to 2 and 3 showed reversible transformations between different Cu4I4 clusters using heat or solvent (acetonitrile or methanol) vapor. CP 2 was reversibly transformed to 3 by the addition of methanol and heat. Therefore, the transformations between supramolecular isomers 1, 2, and 3 are completely reversible.